My Kubota L39 Adventure today. - Machine Underground -Tractor & Commercial Equipment Discussion Forum

**Chris2520** · 12-19-2007, 02:18 AM

Well , i choose to put this in the general discussion forum. to keep this a
unbiased opinion. and share my experience. since i am a JD guy.

and to get other thoughts. Everyone knows i bleed green or JD. I been giving consideration to a more commercial machine. i always figured JD 110 was where i would Go , but after some heavy research i found. they had some trouble with the HST is the 110 's and reading specs. the Kubota L39 bests it. in several categories. So i decided i wanted to test one out. and see for my self. So i had to drive 4 hours ,as no one around in Georgia had one. we went through blue ridge mountains. almost to north Carolina today. to Moss tractor , they sell Kubota , New Holland and Bobcat. and they had a new one right off the truck. they were nice people. told the guy my intentions. he said well lets go play with it... I was game for that..

So even thought it did not have a hoe bucket on it. i knew i could play with the loader and climb some hills. it was a nice dealership. with a play field out back. So he is my impressions. and i will post detail pics. to show some things. first off. just climbing on. you can tell its built much stronger than AG tractor. i was quite impressed with the fit and finish.
i was unsure of shuttle shift after having HST. but after playing with it. it is quit nice. and more usable power. its just like a automatic in a car. you hardly need the clutch for anything. you can just put it in gear sitting still in 5th gear. and push the gas and off to go. then to back up. just take your foot off the gas and mover the lever on the column to reverse. no clutch , and no brake. and it just stops and starts to back up so smooth. no jerking. and pushing into a pile of dirt. with ease. the auto lever button works like a dream. just push the button and the loader bucket stays level. When you don't push a button., it goes right back to bucket loader.

the gas peddle is smooth and you can push the clutch with one hand. the loader joystick has a arm rest. and is comfortable. and the greatest of all. my 6.1 250 pound body don't haft to get off the seat. to work the hoe. just flip a lever on the seat. and swivel like a big JD 310 or case 580....

I love this room and swivel seat. the 110 you haft to get off and climb over the seat. and it sux....

playing in the dirt. you can tell the power of a machine almost 8000 pounds. it pushed and lifted dirt my 2520 would not even think of. it has 12 forward gears and 8 reverse. and first works like a creep for the hoe. it barely moves. and would pull a house down. all controls and switches are located where you can reach them from loader or hoe position. parking brake is one touch button. and it actually holds like its suppose to. the hoe feels very strong. unreal strong. even with no bucket. i stuck it on the ground. and with bucket down. you could lift the back of the tractor 8 feet in the air at ideal the movements are smooth. but the hydraulics are unreal. with a full scoop of dirt. at engine ideal. the steering is still easy as pie. i like this. my 2520 at low RPM's with dirt in the bucket. wont steer setting still. the L39 never changes with the huge dozer bucket full or empty.

i climbed a steep grade hill out back in 6th gear. just barely pushing the gas peddle. it also has a hand throttle like my JD for hoe work. and like a cruse control. you will see in the pictures. some details of the shuttle shift and paddle set up. there in one pic i took looking up at the boom on the hoe. i am 6.1 and pulled straight up. it must be 8 or 9 feet in the air. it is awesome hoe. i took a few pics of there parts and shop. it was a nice out fit. the seat was comfy, and it has tilt steering. all switches and key switch is rubber coated. though is about the same size as a 4000 series JD. the feel is so much more durable and robust.
i was quite impressed i enjoyed driving it. and it would be comfortable to drive all day. i put it in some tight spaces. that had some barrels set up out back. not much more space to maneuver. than a 2520 or 3000 series
I ant writing JD off yet. i will go put a 110 through its paces. may even go test the new yanmar. CBL 40. just not many dealers. around here. and we have JD and kubota dealers. but over all i was quite pleased with the tractor. it loader and hoe power is just flat off the hook. compared to a AG tractor. and here is what really got me thinking about it. it only 4 or 5 thousand more than a 3320 with a 300cx and a 448......

and the loader is double the lift capacity and the hoe is over twice as strong as even a 448.... so i just think it might be worth a look.
ok i rambled on long enough. i will say this. when i left to kubota dealership. i felt good about the machine after i played with it.
it has the power.

and to be honest. the price aint bad either.
here is some pics of the tractor i drove. and the dealers shop.

i tried to be thorough. i am sure i missed some things. the swivel seat. is almost a selling point for me. and that massive hoe. that is stronger than the 110 according to the numbers. i love a mean Hoe....

i know Kenny will give me crap about my spelling...

here is some pics.

Chris....

**Chris2520** · 12-19-2007, 02:20 AM

Rest of the pictures......

Notice i got the bucket dirty for them.....

I will go drive a new 110 in a day or 2 and give a full review of it as well.

Qrazy · 12-19-2007, 07:40 AM

Nice review

Last year my contractor used his 110 around my property doing various tasks. It was an impressive machine, but he has had some trouble with it. I know it broke dragging a york rake around my yard, then shortly afterwards when he moved it to the next job he was doing something else broke on it. I wasn't there so I am not sure what all went down, I just know he has had a few problems with it...I was surprised it wasn't green.

Again thanks for the review

**Ducati996** · 12-19-2007, 08:23 AM

Real Nice review Chris - good to know since I never tried out a L39 -
So maybe grabbing some specifications of its nearest competitors model to show the differences will also help those who are looking, to understand whats available for this type of machine.

**Ducati996** · 12-19-2007, 11:12 AM

I added a competitors comparison depending on who is more accurate (Kubota or Deere) -

The only thing I heard of the auto leveling feature, is that is causes difficulty in getting a true "heaping" in the FEL bucket, without spilage.
I dont take it as fact that this is true but its what heard second hand on the L39 and similar Kubotas with this leveling feature.

**Kennyd** · 12-19-2007, 05:01 PM

Quote:

i know Kenny will give me crap about my spelling...

Here it is...

fart

:side laugh

Seriously though, that was a nice little review.

**mark777** · 12-19-2007, 05:28 PM

That is a nice looking a machine...and a great review too.

Thanks for sharing and the pictures were great. I didn't see any of the engine or under the hood. Must have been having too much fun eh'?

Mark

**Chris2520** · 12-19-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducati996

I added a competitors comparison depending on who is more accurate (Kubota or Deere) -

The only thing I heard of the auto leveling feature, is that is causes difficulty in getting a true "heaping" in the FEL bucket, without spilage.
I dont take it as fact that this is true but its what heard second hand on the L39 and similar Kubotas with this leveling feature.

Well , the auto level feture can be turned on and off with flick of a switch.
if the bucket was on . i would turn this feture off. its for pallet forks. it worked great. it kept everything nice and level...

**JDFANATIC** · 12-19-2007, 06:26 PM

Chris,

Thanks for the review!

I'm not very familiar with the L39 but it sounds like a admirable performer. The specs (thanks Duc for the comparison)

look very close with the Deere having a bit more power but probably eating that up with the hydro. Kubota makes good tractors. Their 3030 is a real competitor to your 2520, and available with a heated/A/C cab!

**Chris2520** · 12-19-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark777

That is a nice looking a machine...and a great review too.

Thanks for sharing and the pictures were great. I didn't see any of the engine or under the hood. Must have been having too much fun eh'?

Mark

Mark you are right. i did look a the motor. I dont know why i did not take a snap of it. it looks pretty open and easy to work on. but as for the motor.
really just looks like most deisal engines. what i did notest. all the radiators and coolers. are real heavy duty. and thick.

something else i forgot to mention. and the pictures just dont show you this.you just got to see them in person. all the hydraulic cylenders. are almost twice as big around as like a 4000 JD tractor. corse a 110 would be the same way. there just way more heavy duty tractors. but i liked how the three point hitch stores right on the tractor. so you always have it with you. seems like a very versital machine.
so far it ranked as #1 in my book so far.
but we will keep testing and reviewing....

Chris....